Book unit rack



Jan. 9, 1951 c. F. WOLTERS 2,537,565

BOOK UNIT RACK Filed Oct. 29, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 BOOK UNIT RACK C. F. WOLTERS Jan. 9, 1951 Filed Oct. 29, 1948 ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 9, 1951 BOOK UNIT RACK Carl F. Wolters, New Canaan, Conn., assignor to Remington Rand Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application October 29, 1948, Serial N o 57,153

1 Claim. 1

The invention relates generally to an improvement in desk racks, particularly to racks of the type used in ofiices and which customarily are placed on the top of a desk or stand to hold a plurality of books, files or the like. It relates more specifically to a flexible rack of this character based upon a single base unit which permits expansion of the racks to any desired length by the addition of similar base units.

The prior art discloses numerous desk racks of the above general description, arranged in various ways to permit subdivision of the rack into separate pockets or compartments. However, all known racks, without exception, haveat least one very objectionable common feature; the overall length is determinable by a base member or by a tie rod, and th partition. separators influence the flexibility of the rack at most Only in the ability to rearrange the width of theindividual pockets. Where conditions of work or space require a rack of greater or lesser length than available, a new rack having a difierent base length is required or the 01d rack must be adjusted by means of fixed-length rods since none of the present racks provide for expansion or contraction of the overall length by means of the separator units directly.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a rack of the character described in which this objectionable feature is eliminated. It provides a rack in which each separate compartment is a complete unit having a base formed from a single piece of metal to which the partition members are attached. This base is symmetrical about its axes, and is provided at each of its ends with individual label holders to indicate and identify the contents of the compartment.

The invention further contemplates a flexible capacity rack which may be formed by joining together by concealed bolts a plurality of said units, the individual bases becoming spacers for the individual pockets. Thus, means are provided by which the ultimate consumer may secure a rack of a length adaptable to his own requirements of filing or space.

The present invention contemplate an expansible rack requiring a relatively small number of parts and in which a single base unit may be assembled with other similar base units by an unskilled worker to form a composite rack of varying lengths, using but few additional, and no replacement parts.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of an expanded rack formed by joining several base units 01' the i vention, one of the end partitions being shown disconnected from a base unit to illustrate the method of assembly.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section through the assembled rack Shown in Fig. 1 illustrating the manner in which the base units act as separators and the method of detachably interconnecting the separate units, the partitions being shownpartly in elevation. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of one of the base units, part of the structure being broken away and shown in section to illustrate its single piece construction, taken substantially on line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-section through an individual baseunit, particularly illustrating the connection of the end and side flanges, taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; I Referring now to the drawings, the rack illus-; trated in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a pluralityof um't bases 6, all of which are of like dimensions; Each base unit 6 is symmetrical about its respective axes and extends laterally between-apair ofvertical partitions l, spacing said partitions 1 to define a compartment or pocket 8 therebetween, in'which papers, documents or other material, as for example, the book indicated in dot and dash lines at 9, may be placed to be supported by the said partitions. i Base unit 6 is made from a single piece of metal formed generally to define a channel section having a relatively wide rectangular central area or deck section Ii! provided with depending flanges ll along each longitudinal ide edge, eachflange l I terminating in an inwardly directed lip l2 disposed in spaced parallel relation with central area deck section ill. The channel section thus formed provides a deck section In, which serves as a sup port for the books or files, and flanges H which will abut partition members I for the attachment thereof in assembly of the rack.

Since the ends of base unit 6 are symmetrical, it will be sufiicient to describe only one end, it being understood that in assembly the ends being duplicates may be arranged with either end at the front of the rack.

Each flange H is cut away at its ends to permit the end portion of area Iii to be turned downward to form an end wall l3 in a plane normal to plane of flanges ll. Marginal portion 14 formed as return bent portion on end wall 1 3 in spaced parallel relation therewith provide a label holder l5 in combination with end wa .1 to receive a flexibl transparent strip 16 which provides a shield for a label or other indicia bearing member [1.

The indicia upon said label is observable through an elongated aperture (8 formed in marginal portion 14.

A portion of each flange H and lip 12 adjacent their respective ends is ofiset inwardly, as shown at l9, to engage a pair of overlapping ears 29 on end walls l3 and disposed normal to the plane of said end walls. When flanges H and ears 29 are assembled in this manner, as shown in Fig. 4, they are suitably welded together to produce a rigid box-like structure in which all possibility of spreading i eliminated. The marginal edge between deck portion In and end wall 13 is curved, as shown at 2|, to add to the appearance of the base and to facilitate insertion of material into the pocket 8.

Planiform partitions I may be formed of any suitable sheeting, such as Masonite, plastic or metal. The length of a partition I is such that its front and rear edges will extend outwardly beyond the end walls l3 of base unit e. The front edge may be conveniently tapered, as shown at 22, and the top corners 23 and 24 are rounded, as shown in Fig. 1.

For clamping the assemblage of base unit and partitions together, the base unit and partitions are each provided with registering spaced holes, such as the holes 25-25 in partition I and the holes 26-26 in base unit 6. Since the rack is supported on the rounded bottom edges 21 of the partitions, holes 25-25 will be spaced above bottom edge 21 a distance sufiicient to permit base 6 to be carried by said partitions with lips 12 spaced above the supporting desk or stand.

The numeral 28- designates an elongated flat retainer bar. Bar 28 is arranged with a pair of spaced holes 29--29 registering with the holes 25-25 and 26-46 in partitions I and base unit 6, respectively.

As has been pointed out, the rack of the inventi'on may be assembled as a single unit, or extended into a composite rack combining several base units. In assembling a single unit, a pair of threaded hex-head cap screws 39 are passed successively through the registering holes 29-29 and 25-25 of a retainer bar 28 and a partition member 1, respectively, and then passed through the registering holes 2626 in one of the flanges I I to be screwed into a pair of square threaded nuts 3| positioned below deck section 10, and each nut 3| having one or its boundaries resting on lip 12. It will be noted that the axial diameter of nut 31 is substantially equal to the distance between area It! and lip I 2 so that rotation of the nut is prevented and partition 1 will be secured rigidly on one side of base unit 6. Another partition I is similarly assembled on the other flange H by means of similar screws 30, a retainer bar 28 and nuts 3|. A rack having a single pocket or compartment 8 is thus assembled.

To add extra compartments it is necessary only to remove the screws 3! and retainer bar 28 from one end partition whereupon additional base .4 units 6 and partitions I may be added in the manner already described, a square unthreaded washer 32, similar in size to nut 31 and similarly d sposed between area It) and lip 12, being substituted in the described assembly procedure for the retainer bar 28 between the separate units. When the rack has been extended to include the desired number of compartments, the end partition I and retainer bar 28 are reassembled on the end base unit 6 in the manner described.

It should also be noted that the unique construction of base unit 6 permits expansion of an individual compartment 8. A rack having a multiple-width compartment is readily accomplished by omitting the interposed partition 1 and bolting abutting flanges ll of adjacent base units 6 in the manner heretofore described for making an expanded rack.

The invention claimed is:

A desk file of the class described comprising an assemblage of a plurality of base units and a plurality of partitions respectivel extending vertically upward at each end of said assemblage of base units and from between adjacent base units, said base unit and said partition having registering openings extending therethrough, clamping means, including a plurality of screws, washers and nuts, for clamping said partitions and said base units in assembled relation, each said base unit comprising a box-like structure symmetrical about its axes and having a centrally disposed rectangular supporting area arranged with circumscribing depending flanges along its marginal edges, said depending flanges along the shorter marginal edges terminating in integral ears normal to the plane thereof and overlap ping the ends of said depending flanges along the longer marginal edges and welded thereto, said longer depending flanges having the aforementioned registering openings formed therein and terminating in inturned lips supporting the nuts and washers of the clamping means below the plane of said supporting area, said shorter depending flanges terminating in an end portion folded upon itself defining a laterally extending label holder, and a plurality of retaining bars, one retainer bar abutting each end partition and being provided with openings registering with the openings of said partition, said retainer bars being carried on the clamping means securing said end partitions to said end base units.

CARL F. WOLTERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,298,628 Ross Mar. 25, 1919 1,449,194 Ross Mar. 20, 1923 1,449,195 Ross Mar. 20, 1923 1,736,574 Binks Nov. 19, 1929 2,158,972 Weindel, Jr. May 16, 1939 2,380,678 Sengbusch July 31, 1945 

